Council denies claim judges had resigned

Reports in mid-March said 12 judges in Shiite courts had resigned “to express frustration with the way the authorities dealt with protesters”. Bahrain’s High Judiciary Council on Monday refuted claims that said judges have abstained from work.

“Work in the religious Shiite courts proceeded smoothly and all judges were present,” a statement from the council said. “Negotiations between the judges and members of the council led to them resuming their work. The judges have never submitted their resignation officially,” the statement said.

Five of the Shura Council, upper house members last week said that they were withdrawing their resignations and a minister who resigned and another minister who allegedly said that he was boycotting the government were last week replaced.